Welcome back to NHL Predictions! Each day, the Last Word on Hockey team will break down every game and give our NHL predictions for each game. This is the late game slate of NHL Predictions for February 9th. Be sure and check out the early games of NHL Predictions too.
NHL Predictions February 9th – Late Games
Tampa Bay Lightning vs. Nashville Predators
Head-to-Head: Lightning 2-0 Predators
The Tampa Bay Lightning have been able to solve the Nashville Predators in both meetings this season. The reigning Cup champions beat the Nashville Predators 4-3 on January 30th, and two days later defeated them again by a score of 5-2. The Tampa club is on a roll with four straight wins and has gathered 15 points this season with a 7-1-1 record. They have outscored their opponents by a 14-goal margin and the Predators will need to bring it to get by the powerful Lightning in this matchup.
The Predators will be the so-called home game in the series of two games against the Lightning. Nashville is going into the game with a rather mediocre 5-6 record. They have allowed seven more goals that their offence has been able to muster, and that could be the story of this game. The Preds are getting plenty of offence from forward Filip Forsberg who is averaging a point a game with six goals and five assists.
The Nashville team is only averaging 2.5 goals a game while allowing 3.27 goals a game. That could be their downfall playing a strong offensive team like Tampa Bay who averages a goal more a game than the Predators. Sorry, Nashville you’ll be on the wrong side of the ledger on this one.
Prediction: Lightning prevails 5-3.
[pickup_prop id=”3632″]
Chicago Blackhawks vs. Dallas Stars
Head-to-Head: Blackhawks 1-0 Stars
The surprising Chicago Blackhawks have definitely overachieved this 2020-21 season. With a respectable 5-4-4 record, they sit in the final playoff spot in the competitive Central Division. Led by two prolific scorers in Patrick Kane (6-G, 11-A) and Alex DeBrincat (6-G, 6-A) the Blackhawks could have an even better record if they could win overtime games. They’ve dropped two in overtime and two in shootouts so far this season. The Blackhawks may have found a goalie who can help them. Kevin Lankinen has a great 4-1-3 record with a .928 save percentage and a 2.32 goals-against-average.
If they improve on those overtime games, they could be a force in the Central Division. The ‘Hawks won a matchup on February 7th, 2-1 in overtime with DeBrincat burying the winner.
The Dallas Stars were hit early with COVID protocol issues and have only played nine games. They started like gangbusters with four straight wins but since then have faltered a bit. Over the last five games, the Stars have only gone 1-2-2 good for four points. The Stars are led by the ageless Joe Pavelski who has seven goals and eight assists in nine contests. Unless the Blackhawks can outscore the Stars, they had better contain Mr. Pavelski if they want to gain two points.
This may be a showdown between Kane and Pavelski. The Stars will win this one.
Prediction: Stars win 3-2 in overtime
Anaheim Ducks vs. Vegas Golden Knights
Head-to-Head: Ducks 0-2 Golden Knights
The Vegas Golden Knights seem to be clicking on all cylinders of late. They command a 7-1-1 record to place them in a tie with the Colorado Avalanche and the St. Louis Blues for first place. The Vegas club however holds two games in hand on Colorado and three on St. Louis. Paced by Marc-Andre Fleury who has collected an undefeated 4-0 record, the Golden Knights seem to be in charge. Fleury is third in the NHL in save percentage with a stellar a .944. His excellent 1.25 goals-against-average shows he’s still a top netminder.
Vegas as a team can score effortlessly and has 3.56 goals for average per game. They’re no easy opponent with the great goaltending from Fleury and Robin Lehner minding the net and only allowing 2.33 goals a game. The Ducks will have their hands full in this tilt.
The Anaheim Ducks are in the last playoff spot in the West Division, thanks mostly to the outstanding goaltending put forth by John Gibson. Gibson has been standing on his head but receives little offensive support to aid his efforts. The Anaheim club is dead last in goals scored per game with a meagre 1.85 goals per game. Even with Gibson just allowing 2.48 goals a game, the Ducks need some offensive power to start showing up if they want to remain in a playoff hunt.
Prediction: Vegas rolls the dice and comes up big… 5-1.
San Jose Sharks vs. Los Angeles Kings
Head-to-Head: Sharks 0-0 Kings
The San Jose Sharks will come limping into the end of a 12-game road trip due to COVID concerns in the location of their arena in San Jose. This will be the first of two back-to-back games against their rivals down the coast. It will also be the last two games on the road… they hope. As we have all learned the pandemic has ruled our lives and predicting what may happen is not a guarantee. The Sharks nonetheless have come out with a 4-5-1 record with all the diversity. This is the first matchup between these two teams. The Sharks need to improve upon their 2.50 goals scored per game and their 3.60 goals allowed if they intend to get past the Kings.
The Los Angeles Kings are attempting to determine how to win themselves. They have dropped four straight games with a 3-6-2 record placing them last in the West Division. They need to get some more scoring since their 2.82 goals scored is not enough to overcome a 3.45 goals allowed average. Anze Kopitar leads the Kings in scoring with just two goals and 12 assists. This may be the battle of who can score more goals than their opponent with both teams struggling to turn on the red light.
The Sharks seem to be the more hungry team, so they should come away victorious in this contest.
Prediction: Sharks win 2-1.
Winnipeg Jets vs. Calgary Flames
Head-to-Head: Jets 3-1 Flames
The Winnipeg Jets are anxiously awaiting the debut of Pierre-Luc Dubois in the game. Since being acquired from the Columbus Blue Jackets for forward Patrik Laine, this will be Dubois’s first game since completing his 14-day quarantine. He looks to line up with Kyle Connor and Trevor Lewis on the Jets’ third line. This is the fourth consecutive game these two North Division teams will face each other with the Jets winning the last two after dropping the first one in a shootout.
The Calgary Flames are starting to burn out of late. Losing two of their last three games hasn’t helped. Still, they are in a tight race to get to that valued fourth spot and a playoff berth. With rumours of forward Sam Bennett possibly being traded, the team needs to focus on getting back to a winning formula. There will be hype with Dubois debuting in his first game, but the Flames need to get two points here to stay relevant.
Prediction: Jets prevail 4-2, with Dubois scoring his first goal with the team.
[pickup_prop id=”4396″]
Main Photo:
